Click the record player above to hear the
earliest recording of Take Me Out to the
Ball Game, done on a wax cylinder by
Edward Meeker in September, 1908.

The Songwriter

In 1908, Jack Norworth
was riding a New York City subway train when he
saw a sign that said "Ball game Today at
the Polo Grounds." He was not a fan of the
game, but some baseball-related lyrics popped
into his head anyway. Albert Von Tilzer, a popular
songwriter, liked the lyrics and put music to
them. What resulted was a song called, Take
Me Out to the Ball Game. Neither man had
ever been to a baseball game and wouldn't attend
one for many decades. Second only to the National
Anthem, this song is the most widely sung song
in America.

To the left, is a very rare, signed copy of Take
Me Out to the Ball Game.
Below, is a cigar box, circa 1908, which features
the likeness of Jack Norworth.

This letter is from
Albert Von Tilzer, the man who wrote the
music to Take Me Out to the Ball Game.